Two Costa Rican nationals, Celso Manuel Gamboa-Sánchez (49) a well-known politician and attorney, and López Vega (48), were arrested Monday by agents of the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ) at the request of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

According to Costa Rica’s Prosecutor’s Office, both men are the subjects of an international warrant for their capture and extradition to the United States.

These individuals are wanted by the U.S. Department of Justice on a case related to international drug trafficking, as per an order issued by a court in Dallas, Texas.

Gamboa was taken into custody at a residence in Escazú canton, San José, while López was arrested in a public area near Cahuita Beach, Limón.

Gamboa has held numerous prominent roles in Costa Rica’s government. He served as Vice Minister of Public Security from 2010 to 2011, Vice Minister of the Presidency and Director of Intelligence and Security in 2014, and Minister of Security later that same year. He has also served as the country’s Anti-Drug Commissioner and as a prosecutor in Limón, San José, Alajuela, and Cartago. In 2015, he was appointed Deputy Prosecutor of the Public Ministry, and in 2016, he became a magistrate of the Supreme Court of Justice.

According to authorities, the second suspect, López, has a criminal record in Costa Rica and was sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking in 2014. He recently completed his punishment.

Following standard security procedures, both men were taken into custody and transferred to the Public Ministry in San José, where they will remain while extradition proceedings are underway.

The OIJ is encouraging the public to report individuals who may be subject to international arrest. Confidential tips can be submitted by calling the hotline at 800-8000-645 or the quick line at 11-76. Bilingual agents are available in both English and Spanish.

The arrests of Gamboa and López come amid a recent surge in apprehensions of suspects in Costa Rica wanted by foreign authorities.  Recently, a Russian national wanted for fraud and money laundering was arrested Thursday in Costa Rica by agents from Interpol in coordination with the OIJ.

In May, a legal amendment went into effect in Costa Rica, allowing for the extradition of Costa Rican citizens, whether by birth or naturalization, to countries with which Costa Rica maintains extradition treaties.

The OIJ, a division of the Supreme Court of Justice, is responsible for conducting criminal investigations and holds nationwide police authority.

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